[1] Inaugurated on May 15, 1973, as the CCP Philharmonic, the new orchestra was initially intended to accompany artists performing at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The PPO has performed under such renowned conductors as Mendi Rodan, Piero Gamba, Yaacov Bergman, Jeffery Meyer, and Nicholas Koch.

It has also collaborated with premier foreign concertists such as Van Cliburn, Renata Tebaldi, Monique Duphil, Anthony Camden, Judith Engel and David Benoit; and leading Filipino artistes including Cecile Licad, Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera, and Regine Velasquez.

Overseas, the PPO successfully toured Europe and, in 2001, performed for Asia Orchestra Week at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall.

The orchestra also gave a 2004 Charity Royal Command Concert at Bangkok's National Theater at the invitation of Princess Galyani Vadhana, elder sister of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.